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WYPronghornUnit 78June 2026

Wyoming Unit 78 Pronghorn Antelope Hunting Guide

Wyoming Unit 78 sits in the heart of pronghorn country, offering hunters one of the more accessible and productive antelope draws in the state. Spanning 601,402 total acres with 80% public land, this unit provides exceptional ground access for hunters who want to pursue pronghorn without the logistical headaches of navigating heavy private land blocks. Elevation ranges from 3,628 to 6,528 feet — classic Wyoming high desert and rolling sagebrush terrain that pronghorn thrive in, and terrain that hunters can realistically glass and cover on foot without technical mountain gear.

What makes Unit 78 stand out in Wyoming's extensive pronghorn draw system is its consistent harvest performance. Over the past four seasons, this unit has posted success rates ranging from 70% to 94%, with 2024 standing out as a near-perfect year for hunters in the field. That kind of performance — backed by real harvest data, not speculation — is exactly what serious applicants should look for when deciding where to invest their preference points. Unit 78 rewards preparation and reasonable expectations with the kind of follow-through in the field that many western hunting units simply cannot match.

This article is built entirely on data compiled by HuntPilot, and it's designed to give hunters the clearest possible picture of what Unit 78 delivers before they submit an application. Whether hunters are first-time pronghorn applicants or experienced Wyoming draw veterans, the numbers here tell a clear story.

Harvest Success Rates

Unit 78's harvest record over the past four seasons is among the most compelling reasons to target this unit. Here is the complete recent picture:

  • 2022: 337 hunters, 237 harvested — 70% success
  • 2023: 285 hunters, 204 harvested — 72% success
  • 2024: 181 hunters, 170 harvested — 94% success
  • 2025: 184 hunters, 157 harvested — 85% success

The trajectory here deserves close attention. In 2022 and 2023, the unit carried a larger hunter pool and still produced success rates well above the Wyoming statewide average for most antelope units. Then in 2024, with a tighter draw and 181 hunters afield, the unit reached 94% — an exceptional outcome that reflects both the density of the pronghorn population and the quality of access that 80% public land provides.

The 2025 season settled at 85% success across 184 hunters, which represents a healthy and sustainable figure. The slight dip from 2024's high-water mark is statistically unremarkable — conditions, weather, and timing all factor into single-season variation. The four-year average lands around 80%, which is a realistic benchmark hunters should use when assessing their expectations going into the draw.

One pattern worth noting: as hunter numbers have decreased from the 337 afield in 2022 down to the low-to-mid 180s in 2024–2025, success rates have climbed. This likely reflects a combination of reduced hunting pressure and a more selective draw pool. Hunters who draw this unit in recent years are going out and tagging out at a very high rate.

Trophy Quality

Counties overlapping Wyoming Unit 78 carry a moderate history of trophy-class pronghorn production. Using the trophy record baseline — where an 85+ buck represents a top-tier animal and anything approaching 90 inches is genuinely world-class — hunters should approach this unit with grounded expectations.

This is not a unit that hunters apply to expecting a record-book dominant buck on a regular basis. However, the area does have a documented history of producing trophy-class animals, and exceptional bucks do exist in the population. For hunters whose primary goal is putting a mature buck on the ground in a highly accessible unit with proven high success rates, Unit 78 delivers. For hunters chasing a once-in-a-decade monarch, they should be prepared to invest more points in more competitive limited-entry draws elsewhere in Wyoming.

The moderate trophy history combined with the strong buck-to-doe ratio data (discussed below) suggests a population that supports mature age-class animals. Hunters who are selective in the field and hold out for a representative mature buck should have opportunities to do so given the unit's strong public land access and consistent pronghorn presence.

Herd Health & Population Trends

Wildlife survey data collected across four survey years from 2021 to 2024 shows an average buck-to-doe ratio of 46:100 in Unit 78. For context, a ratio in the mid-to-upper 40s per 100 does is considered a healthy and well-balanced pronghorn population. Wildlife managers generally look for ratios above 30:100 as an indicator of a population not under severe buck harvest pressure — Unit 78's 46:100 average clears that benchmark with room to spare.

A 46:100 average sustained across four survey years signals consistency. This is not a unit experiencing dramatic population swings or a herd in recovery — it's a stable, productive population that has supported harvest rates in the 70%–94% range across recent seasons. The correlation between a strong buck-to-doe ratio and high hunter success rates is not a coincidence. When bucks are present in solid numbers relative to does, hunters find animals efficiently, and harvest outcomes reflect that.

Pronghorn rut peaks in mid-September, which is biologically consistent across Wyoming. During this window, bucks become highly visible as they push does and compete for breeding rights — a significant tactical advantage for hunters trying to locate and pattern mature animals across open country.

Access & Terrain

Unit 78 covers 601,402 acres with 80% public land — a figure that removes most of the access friction that plagues pronghorn hunters in units dominated by private ranch land. Hunters can realistically plan a DIY self-guided hunt here without needing to knock on landowner doors or pay for private access. This is a meaningful differentiator in Wyoming's pronghorn draw landscape, where many productive units are significantly bottlenecked by private land blocks.

The unit spans an elevation range of 3,628 to 6,528 feet. That spread suggests a mix of lower basin terrain — typical rolling sagebrush flats and desert grassland where pronghorn spend the bulk of their time — with moderate upland relief at the upper end of the range. Pronghorn are creatures of open, flat-to-rolling country, and the lower two-thirds of Unit 78's elevation band is squarely in their preferred habitat. Hunters should expect big glassing country with long sight lines, requiring quality optics and patience rather than aggressive physical mountaineering.

There is no designated wilderness within Unit 78, which means nonresident hunters face no guide or outfitter requirement under Wyoming law. This is an entirely legal DIY unit for both residents and nonresidents — hunters can self-guide their entire hunt from vehicle to tag without any licensing restrictions.

The combination of 80% public land, no wilderness, and predominantly low-to-moderate elevation terrain makes Unit 78 one of the more logistically straightforward pronghorn hunts in Wyoming. Hunters who arrive with a truck, solid glassing gear, and a basic understanding of antelope behavior in open country are well-positioned to succeed.

HuntPilot Analysis

Is Wyoming Unit 78 worth applying for? For most hunters — yes, with clear eyes about what the unit delivers.

The data case is strong: four consecutive seasons of 70%–94% success, a stable buck-to-doe ratio averaging 46:100 across four survey years, and 80% public land across a 600,000-acre footprint. These are not marginal numbers. This unit consistently gets hunters into the field and consistently produces pronghorn tags filled. Very few hunting units of any species in the western United States post this kind of sustained harvest success.

The honest counterpoint is trophy ceiling. Unit 78 carries moderate trophy history, not exceptional. Hunters chasing a wall-hanger buck that would dominate a record book should look at other Wyoming units with stronger trophy pedigrees — and accept the likelihood of spending more preference points or more years waiting to draw. Unit 78 is not that hunt. It is a high-probability, great-experience pronghorn hunt with legitimate opportunities at mature bucks.

For resident hunters, this is an attractive draw target — the application fees are low, the success rates are outstanding, and the 80% public land makes DIY planning straightforward. For nonresidents, the unit is a solid choice, particularly for hunters who have not yet invested heavily in Wyoming pronghorn points and want a realistic shot at a quality hunt without burning a decade of preference accumulation.

The decline in hunter numbers from 337 in 2022 to approximately 184 in 2025, paired with rising success rates, suggests the draw is currently running at a sustainable level. Hunters who draw this tag in the current allocation environment are entering a favorable situation.

Bottom line: Unit 78 is a well-documented, high-success, DIY-friendly pronghorn unit with moderate trophy potential. It is worth applying for, and the harvest data backs that up cleanly.

How to Apply

Wyoming operates a preference point system for pronghorn. Points accumulate when hunters apply and do not draw, improving their position in future draws. Hunters who draw a tag consume their accumulated points, resetting to zero. Applicants who want to build points without drawing can pay the point fee in lieu of a full application in some years — check the Wyoming Game and Fish Department's current regulations for the point-only option details.

2026 Application Details

For the 2026 draw, applications open January 2, 2026, with a deadline of June 1, 2026. Hunters who want to build or maintain points without applying for a tag have a point deadline of November 2, 2026.

Resident fees (2026):

  • Application fee: $5
  • Tag fee: $22 (standard) or $37 (depending on hunt type)
  • License fee: $0.00 (required to apply — no separate license purchase needed)

Nonresident fees (2026):

  • Application fee: $15
  • Tag fee: $34, $326, or $1,200 depending on the specific hunt
  • License fee: $0.00 (required to apply)
  • Point fee: $31

The variation in nonresident tag fees reflects the different draw categories available in Wyoming's pronghorn system. The $34 tier typically represents doe/fawn or antlerless opportunities, the $326 tier covers standard any-pronghorn permits, and the $1,200 tier applies to special or premium limited-entry hunts. Hunters should confirm which fee tier corresponds to the specific hunt they are targeting in the current regulations.

2028 Application Window

For hunters planning ahead, the 2028 application deadline for all regular pronghorn hunts is March 1, 2028, with applications opening January 5, 2028.

Dates and fees are subject to change. Always verify current application details at the Wyoming Game and Fish Department website before applying. For draw odds and unit-specific hunt details, visit HuntPilot at huntpilot.ai/states/wy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the terrain like in Wyoming Unit 78? Unit 78 is predominantly open, rolling sagebrush and high desert grassland — classic pronghorn habitat. Elevation runs from 3,628 to 6,528 feet, with the majority of huntable antelope range concentrated in the lower basin areas. Hunters should expect big country with long sight lines, requiring quality optics to glass effectively. The terrain is physically manageable for most hunters in average condition; this is not a technical mountain hunt.

What is the harvest success rate in Wyoming Unit 78? Recent harvest data shows exceptionally strong performance. In 2022, 337 hunters achieved 70% success. In 2023, 285 hunters posted 72%. In 2024, 181 hunters reached 94% success — one of the highest single-season rates in the unit's recent history. In 2025, 184 hunters finished at 85%. The four-year average is approximately 80%, making this one of the more reliable pronghorn harvest units in Wyoming.

How big are the pronghorn in Wyoming Unit 78? Counties overlapping Unit 78 carry a moderate trophy history. Mature bucks are present in the population, and selective hunters willing to pass on younger animals have realistic opportunities at quality animals. This unit is not known as a premier record-book destination — hunters targeting the very top end of trophy pronghorn quality should research more specialized limited-entry draws. For a quality, honest pronghorn experience with strong odds of tagging a mature buck, Unit 78 is a legitimate choice.

Is Wyoming Unit 78 worth applying for? Yes — particularly for hunters who prioritize a high-probability, DIY-friendly hunt over chasing an extraordinary trophy. With 80% public land, no wilderness, an 80% four-year average success rate, and a stable herd with a 46:100 buck-to-doe ratio, this unit delivers on the fundamentals. Nonresidents can hunt without a guide requirement, and the terrain is accessible without specialized backcountry logistics. For current draw odds and point requirements, visit HuntPilot's Wyoming unit pages at huntpilot.ai/states/wy.

Does Wyoming Unit 78 require a guide for nonresident hunters? No. Unit 78 contains no designated wilderness area. Wyoming's mandatory guide requirement for nonresidents applies only in designated wilderness — since Unit 78 has zero wilderness acreage, nonresident hunters can legally self-guide their entire hunt without hiring a licensed Wyoming outfitter.

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